High Intensity Interval Training - Is it Good for You?

High Intensity Interval Training – Is it Good for You?

Alternating between intense bursts of activity and dedicated periods of less-intense activity, high-intensity interval training, known as HIIT for short, is an incredibly efficient type of workout that can whip you into shape in no time.  A sample workout could be running as quickly as you possibly can for 1 minute, then switching to brisk walking for 2 minutes; complete this fat-blasting, 15 minute routine by repeating the 3-minute interval five times.  When you dedicate yourself to working out with HIIT routines regularly, you may see results quicker than you could even imagine.  This simple yet effective approach to exercise has several benefits you can read about below:

It’s Extremely Efficient

It's Seriously Challenging

Perfect for anyone with a hectic schedule, HIIT can be done on your lunch break with plenty of time left to eat, too.  It can also help you get into shape quickly for an upcoming event.  Research has shown that short periods of interval training done three times per week can produce better results than an hour-long session on the treadmill.  HIIT has also been shown to rapidly improve your aerobic capacity (2 weeks of high-intensity intervals can do as much as 6 to 8 weeks of endurance training!).

Burn More Fat

Working out with such intense exertion causes your body to burn more calories and fat not only during your sweat session but for 24 hours afterwards, too.

You Don’t Need Fancy Equipment

Although exercises such as biking, jumping rope, rowing and running are all fantastic choices for HIIT, equipment isn’t necessary for an effective workout.  Anything that gets your heart rate up quickly does the trick including fast feet, high knees and jumping lunges.

Lose Weight, Not Muscle

Lose Weight, Not Muscle

It is common to lose muscle mass along with fat when you go on a diet, and can also happen if you maintain the same speed during your cardio workout.  On the other hand, HIIT workouts and weight training both allow dieters to hang onto their muscles because the majority of lost weight comes from stored fat.

Increase Your Metabolism

Increase Your Metabolism

The production of your human growth hormone (HGH) is stimulated with HIIT by up to 450 percent in the 24 hours following your workout.  Because it increases the number of calories burned and slows down the aging process to boot, HGH can help your body fight the aging process.

It Can Be Done Anywhere

It Can Be Done Anywhere

From a cramped hotel room to a tiny apartment balcony, you can truly do HIIT anywhere.  Based on such a straightforward concept- pushing yourself to the maximum for a brief period of time followed by a recovery period which you repeat- you are able to modify your workout to fit any time or space restrictions you may come across.

It’s Seriously Challenging

HIIT is a workout that requires you to work hard the entire time, so don’t expect to be able to chat with your workout buddy or read a book.  However, you only need to work out for a short period of time, and is a great way to see results quickly.

Change up your normal workout routine with High Intensity Interval Training for an effective challenge that will be anything but boring!

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